The School Education Department (SED) Punjab has announced a major policy shift in response to the widespread boycott of the recent Training Needs Assessment (TNA) test by public school teachers. Rather than evaluating teachers through direct testing, the department will now assess them based on the academic performance of their students.
The decision follows a significant disruption in the TNA initiative, which saw less than 10% participation from the province’s 300,000 public school teachers. Repeated resistance from educators ultimately forced authorities to cancel the planned assessments.
According to SED officials, disciplinary action will be taken against teachers whose students consistently underperform. “If teachers are unwilling to be evaluated directly, we will assess their effectiveness through the learning outcomes of their students,” said an education department spokesperson.
The new approach is set to take effect when schools reopen on August 15. While the department has framed the move as a step toward increased accountability and improved education standards, many teachers have voiced strong criticism. They argue that they were already recruited through rigorous competitive examinations and that further evaluation is both redundant and unjust.
“This policy undermines the professionalism of teachers,” said a representative of a provincial teachers’ union. “Student performance is influenced by many factors, not just the teacher’s ability. Holding us solely responsible is unfair.”
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Despite mounting criticism, the department appears firm in its stance. Officials maintain that the new strategy aims to ensure better classroom outcomes and curb academic stagnation in the province’s public schools.